A Superior Court judge in Thunder Bay is reserving his ruling in the first battle of what is expected to be a long courtroom war between Resolute Forest Products and Greenpeace Canada.

The forestry giant is suing the environmental group for $5 million for “defamation, malicious falsehood and intentional interference with economic relations.”

The claim relates to a Greenpeace campaign, beginning in 2012, that was critical of Resolute’s forest practices.

Greenpeace forest campaigner Shane Moffatt is named as part of the suit, which he calls a ‘SLAPP’ — an acronym for strategic lawsuits against public participation. “It’s our opinion that this suit is intended to send the message not to criticize Resolute,” Moffatt said outside the Thunder Bay courthouse on Thursday. “In our opinion, if Resolute had their way no one would be criticizing them at all.”

Greenpeace asked the court on Thursday to strike down Resolute’s claim of intentional interference.